1 1 2 BIRDS-NES TS. 



followed her to the ground, poured into her ear a fine, 

 half-suppressed warble, offered her a worm, flew back 

 to the tree again with a great spread of plumage, 

 hopped around her on the branches, chirruped, chat- 

 tered, flew gallantly at an intruder, and was back in 

 an instant at her side. No use, — she cut him short 

 at every turn. 



The denouement I cannot relate, as the artful bird, 

 followed by her ardent suitor, soon flew away beyond 

 my sight. It may not be rash to conclude, however, 

 that she held out no longer than was prudent. 



On the whole, there seems to be a system of Women's 

 Rights prevailing among the birds, which, contemplated 

 from the stand-point of the male, is quite admirable. 

 In almost all cases of joint interest, the female bird is 

 the most active. She determines the site of the nest, 

 and is usually the most absorbed in its construction. 

 Generally, she is more vigilant in caring for the young, 

 and manifests the most concern when danger threatens. 

 Hour after hour I have seen the mother of a brood of 

 blue grossbeaks pass from the nearest meadow to the 

 tree that held her nest, with a cricket or grasshopper 

 in her bill, while her better-dressed half was singing 

 serenely on a distant tree or pursuing his pleasure 

 amid the branches. 



Yet among the majority of our song birds the male 

 is most conspicuous both by his color and manners and 

 by his song, and is to that extent a shield to the female. 

 It is thought that the female is humbler clad for her 



